Randy Newman Live

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Professional reviews
Randy Newman Live

Live album by Randy Newman
Released	1971
Recorded	September 17-19, 1970
Genre	Rock
Length	28:34
Label	Reprise Records
Producer(s)	Lenny Waronker
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B) link
Randy Newman chronology
12 Songs (1970)	Randy Newman Live (1971)	Sail Away (1972)

Randy Newman Live

An intriguing live album from Newman, part of the appeal being that this is the only official live recording released by him. Recorded over three evenings between 17th and 19th September 1970 in front of a small but largely appreciative audience, Newman recalled the event with little sentiment when questioned about it years later.

Originally intended as a radio promo recording to gain some much needed publicity it clocks in at just over 28 minutes in length and is a brief set sounding hurried at points (the longest song is 2:48 and the shortest 1:16). Although the material is mostly taken from his debut and ‘12 Songs’ albums there are a couple of rarities (‘Maybe I’m Doing It Wrong’ and ‘Tickle Me’) and two songs from the as then unreleased ‘Sail Away’ album (‘Last Night I Had a Dream’ and ‘Lonely at the Top’. An audience member requests the former title suggesting that the composition of this song may date earlier than first thought).

Although this is not an essential item in the Newman canon for the casual listener this is of interest to the devoted, not least for the banter with the audience. Newman sounds witty and less guarded than usual and he even offers brief synopses of some of the material. The performance is engaging and is performed with Newman alone at the piano treating the audience to excellent stripped down versions of songs such as ‘Davy the Fat Boy’ and ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’. If there were more live releases by Newman then this album would perhaps not be as significant but as it is this is well worth the entrance fee.